Are you creating your own workplace stress?

Quick, by a show of hands, how many of you have workplace stress? Almost everybody, great.

Now, how much of that stress do you think is self-imposed? What, no hands?

Well, I'm not surprised, but you may be in for a shock.

You see, most people make their own stress. Why do they do it? How should I know? I'm not a shrink. I'm just here to tell you that a lot of it is self-imposed.

How do I know that? Well, I've been around the block a few times. I've watched the way employees, managers, and executives behave in companies big and small. After a few decades, you experience the same things over and over and, well, let's just say it's not rocket science.

That said, here are 10 ways you may be inflicting stress upon yourself and what you can do about it.

Compensation. Not making enough money? Join the club. Nobody, I mean nobody makes enough money. Work hard, be smart, do great things, learn how to negotiate, and the money will come. What, you don't like that answer? Tough, that's how it works.

Unappreciated. Nobody loves you? Boss treats your co-worker better than you? Did you ever think maybe it's you? Maybe you're always whining. Maybe you never grew up. Who knows? Change groups, change companies; if the same thing happens, it's you. See a shrink. If not, problem solved.

Silos. Your group gets no respect. IT is always getting dumped on. Sales and marketing has it easy. I've got news for you--the grass is always greener. Silo behavior is destructive, period. Don't believe me? Fine, then jump ship. See for yourself.

Psycho boss. What, your boss is an abusive self-hating jerk? You've tried everything but nothing works? Well, lots of bosses are dysfunctional nuts who act out their childhood dramas on poor unsuspecting employees. Life is too short. Quit and go somewhere else.

Company performance. So, you work for a crappy company that's getting its butt kicked by the competition. First, be sure this isn't a grass-is-greener thing. If it's really true, then don't beat your head against the wall. Go work for the competitor. Not so easy? Sorry, but none of the best things in life are.

Too much work, too little time. Most of the time, this is self-imposed. Are you sure your deadlines are real and not just you feeling self-important or maybe pushing yourself too hard? Bottom line: no group or company is successful pushing its employees too hard. If you happen to work at a place that doesn't get that, then it's time for a change.

Peer relationships.There's this guy you just don't get along with and it's really stressful, right? Well, guess what? I'll bet he or she feels the same way about you. It happens to everybody. Try a little detente. Offer an olive branch. Swallow your pride and give in. It won't kill you.

Responsibility with no authority. There are jobs--product marketing, for example--where you have a great deal of responsibility but few direct employees or resources. You have to manage by influencing people. If you're good at it, congrats--you're a leader of men and you'll do well out there. If not, better find another job.

Budget. For some reason, you or your group just isn't getting the budget you need to do the job right. Well, that's your opinion, but management has an opinion too, and they win. Make do with what you have; it'll be fine. The pay's the same. This is one you just have to learn to let go. It comes with maturity.

Management doesn't listen or care. Did it ever occur to you that executive managers are people too? They have their own issues and they're not perfect. Some companies are well managed, some are managed by selfish zealots, and there's everything in between. That's what's great about America; you can always quit and go somewhere else.

Bottom line
If you experience an issue or two and it changes when you jump companies or groups, then welcome to the real world. That's just the way it is. Don't whine and complain. Don't give in and don't give up. Be optimistic. Continue your search for a passionate, fulfilling job at a great company. You'll find it.

If you think this post is oversimplified, you're wrong. The truth is that you're overcomplicating things. If you experience a few of these issues, you've tried switching jobs or companies, and it's always the same, then it's probably you. It wouldn't kill you to see someone about that.

[schnogg]

That's great, but what does the silos section mean? It doesn't make sense to me.

[timcoyote]

" Continue your search for a passionate, fulfilling job at a great company. You'll find it."

I think even after finding a job I'm passionate about, these things still exist and must be balanced, resolved and examined. And that
hen jump ship
it's time for a change.
give in.
find another job
let go
go somewhere else.

...is not always the right answer if you love the job you have. Still, some great points here about resolving your stress points at work. I'm off to offer an olive branch to someone...

[timcoyote]

" Continue your search for a passionate, fulfilling job at a great company. You'll find it."

I think even after finding a job I'm passionate about, these things still exist and must be balanced, resolved and examined. And that
hen jump ship
it's time for a change.
give in.
find another job
let go
go somewhere else.

...is not always the right answer if you love the job you have. Still, some great points here about resolving your stress points at work. I'm off to offer an olive branch to someone...

[stobak]

Silo behavior is when individual groups within a company compete or are at odds with each other, as opposed to aligning with the entire entity in pursuit of corporate-wide goals.

Sorry about the "corporate speak."

Steve Tobak

[zeth006]

Interesting to learn.

[leroyparker]

There is one major flaw in this article that makes it irrelavant for 90% of the population. the author assumes everyone a) is internally motivated and willing to accept the change that comes with changing companies and b) is educated and has the ability to find a comparable job that pays in the same range. I live in Detroit and the entire area is saturated with former auto workers who have no contingincy plan nor desire for self improvment. Now that they are in their 40s and 50s and facing permanent unemploment if they lose their jobs they are stuck in situations where they have no choice but to put up with this stress.

I understand it's not the typical mindset of this audience but their are a lot of blue collar people out there who have little in the way of formal education and employment options. this article does not apply to them.

[stobak]

Yes, you're quite right; there are certainly situations where individuals may not have the latitude to attempt some of the remedies I suggest.

I'm not sure it's simply a blue collar distinction, but I still agree with your point.

In any case, I admittedly write to the CNET demographic.

Thanks for the comment,

Steve Tobak

[jeanniego]

I've been a lab rat for 26 years at my place of employment, I don't have to jump ship when times get stressful. My company has changed names 6 times. The "dysfunctional nuts" go every time. As long as the paycheck keeps coming, I don't care who signs it.

[zeth006]

I can somewhat relate. Complaining's definitely my low point. My personality test even confirms that it's one of the negatives of people of my personality type. That's one vice I'm trying to tone down as the times go by. Especially at places I work, a lot of this just involves trying to think positively and telling myself that I at least have some control over my environment.

Unappreciated
After having worked just over a month at my academy as a teacher, I can relate to this part. A week ago, a couple of teachers were HEAVILY criticizing me behind my back and were clearly reluctant to take me off the bench so I could substitute for a teacher who was on vacation. Personally, I didn't care. Either way, I wasn't getting paid for working extra, though my schedule was relatively light to begin with. But after they figured no one else had the time, they put me in the game. Didn't hear any complaints after that. Must've done an alright job, no?

[Dane McKitrick]

For several years, my theory on this subject has been, if it were possible to quantify the 'problems' and 'issues' an employee feels impact him and somehow assign arithmetic values to them, the sum would remain constant without regard to the employer or job description. If an employee had a hypothetical stress value of 100 at employer "A", and left for employer "B", within a year, the index would be back at 100. the problems might be different, the issues unrelated, but the index would remain constant. I believe it is a lot more internal driven than most people are willing to acknowledge.

[DrollTroll]

"That's just the way it is. Don't whine and complain" Complaining and whining (CAW) is the way it is. It is the Amereican way. It is what we fought wars for. CAW is a healthy outlet; when you can't complain and whine, it becomes oppressive, and you get employees going postal and acting out...like shooting co-workers and bosses. Far better, to verbally gripe IMHO.

[zeth006]

Hah, nah. I'm often tempted to get negative, and look at the darker side of things in general. NOT the best habit at WORK. Not that I don't enjoy what I do, but complaining excessively and occasionally venting to a good friend can be mutually exclusive. It's knowing the difference and knowing better to look at things positively in a different light that makes my world a whole lot easier to manage.

[Daves_Not_Here]

I know someone who's last 3-4 jobs would hit 6-7 of those points, and probably would not appreciate having this pointed out. Regarding CAW - in Australia we have a verb for it - to "whinge":
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/whinge

[offir_a]

I also don't think that jumping ships is the right answer ? the problems are the same everywhere, or else how we all read these lines and agree with it?...

The change must come from within.

There is a book called "The four agreements" ? it's about becoming really free from within. It takes 4 new agreements that we should make with ourselves instead of the thousands of old agreements that were imposed on us by our parents, teachers, society, etc:
1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. NEVER take anything personal.
3. Don't make assumptions.
4. Always do your best.

It's a way to really improve our communication and thus our relations with others; it's a way to get free from within.
I STRONGLY recommend this book. There is an e-book version on Amazon.

[sray001]

Then work on improving yourself and you'll be ahead of 90% of your competition. Within the auto industry there's metalworking and welding, plastics, glasswork, electronics, materials management, motion control (assembly robotics), along with several disciplines of engineering, project and materials management, logistics, and human resource management. Each of the above subjects likely has 10 or more jobs that could be explored to move into other industries.
Just my opinion on how I would approach your situation.